Revision as of 21:41, 11 March 2011

IDENTITY THEFT

The Federal Trade Commission has established 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338), a toll-free number, to help battle identity theft, a growing crime in which criminals steal money or commit other crimes while posing as someone else.

A 1998 law making ID theft a federal crime and mandates that the FTC become the consumer's first line of defense. By calling the FTC's toll-free number, you can report the crime, get advice about minimizing damage and restoring your good name, or find out about preventative steps to take to keep you from becoming a victim. The FTC does not resolve individual consumer problems; filing your complaint with FTC can help in the investigation of this kind of fraud. This same service is available online at FTC's website:

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is a non-profit consumer organization that focuses on protecting privacy. It provides helpful fact sheets on identity theft and other privacy issues. Its web site contains many publications from preventative measures through organizing your case for court and setting up a victims support group.